A MEETING to inform Mid-Cheshire residents of developments over plans for a controversial landfill site in Middlewich received great support from the public.

A MEETING to inform Mid-Cheshire residents of developments over plans for a controversial landfill site in Middlewich received great support from the public.

More than 300 people attended the meeting organised by Middlewich Against Dumping (MAD), which campaigners claim demonstrated the strong support of the anti-landfill lobby.

It was called to highlight plans by the Banks Group's subsidiary Clay Services Ltd to quarry clay from Kinderton Lodge in Middlewich and use the resulting hole to landfill rubbish which would be brought to the town from across Cheshire and beyond.

Town councillor Chalky White said: 'There are now significantly more people in Middlewich that are now aware of this proposal and doubtless they will be telling their friends and neighbours of the need to fight this.

'This town needs your support. In order to get this waste dump stopped you must be prepared to make your voice heard. MAD will help you do it, but you must help MAD reach as many people as possible and get them all to write to Cheshire County Council stating why they think this waste dump should not be allowed.'

County Councillor Dave Sutton added: 'MAD has got the support of the local council and councillors and we need the local people to get behind us.'

Clay Services Ltd is one of the largest private clay producers in the country. It wants to carry out clay extraction at Kinderton Lodge and to fill the created space with waste.

The project would also see the restoration of the Cledford Lagoons. They will be capped with clay from the Kinderton site and returned to grassland and woodland with public access.

But the proposal has sparked widespread protests over environmental and health fears.

Clay Services admitted that as many as 217 lorry movements a day could be expected in and around Middlewich if the planning application gets the go-ahead from Congleton Borough Council.